Week Twenty-Two, 2026

“And to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19).

It was an old farm which I grew up on, and everything got saved in the old barn. I loved poking around there to see what I could find. One day I found a roll of wire and asked my Dad what the wire was for, and he said that it was hay baling wire. He explained that hay by itself uncontrolled will fly away with the wind unless it is bound together with the wire.

I have heard that if you just have duct tape, wire or rope and WD-40 you can manage and run anything.

In the Bible, a rope (or cord) often symbolizes strength, unity, and connection, notably in the “cord of three strands” representing, for instance, God, a person, and others. It frequently represents a “lifeline” of hope, faith, and God’s promises, as well as a symbol of bondage or security.

I love that old hymn that rings out: “Blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like that above.” The song was written by a twelve-year-old orphan.

That’s the secret. What binds us together tighter than baling wire is Christian love. Jesus defines love as a self-sacrificial, action-oriented commitment, exemplified by laying down one’s life for others. His command is to love God wholeheartedly, love neighbors as oneself, and crucially, to love enemies. This love is unconditional, kind, forgiving, and serves the marginalized, setting a new standard to “love one another as I have loved you.”

Jesus said “I Love You” with His life by showing up for all of us and giving us hope for our messy lives. He left His throne to come to earth and save us from our miserable selves. It’s through His life and presence in our hearts that we can learn to love ourselves and others.

Sadness runs deep in our world today especially for those who don’t know what real love is. Through the life of Jesus, we learn to see that love is more than just words. Love is taking action. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Sadness runs deep in our world today, especially for those who don’t know what real love is. Through the life of Jesus, we learn to see that love is more than just words. Love is taking action. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

This kind of love doesn’t just happen. It’s the kind of love that we must act upon. Love is not just a feeling; it is a choice. Jesus wasn’t forced to love us. He chose to love us with open arms nailed to the cross. Jesus is love.

Love is the wire that binds us together.

Sometimes True Stories

“One man pretends to be rich yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.” – Proverbs 13:7

A recent survey indicates that only 28% of our population trust the news media. Most of those surveyed consider their content to be fake news with an agenda. In today’s vernacular, “pretending to be rich” can be called “fake wealth.” Unfortunately, our society often encourages people to pretend to be someone they are not. This pretense may be born out of a desire for acceptance or validation of self-worth. These people may fool some, but eventually they will be disgraced when their charade is exposed. The other person in this Proverb remains humble, even though they may have material wealth. God resists the proud and exalts the humble. When we are rich in our faith, we don’t need to worry about what the world thinks.

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Whether tomorrow brings my last breath or another sunrise, my hope is the same: I am the Lord’s. If I die, I go to the One who saved me. If I live, I do not walk into the day alone. Christ goes with me still. That is why my heart can rest. As Scripture says, “whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord” – Romans 14:8 (NIV).

There is such comfort in knowing my life is not held together by luck, strength, or certainty about the future. It is held by God. He has stood beside me in days of joy and in seasons I thought would break me. He has been faithful through answered prayers and silent nights, through abundance and need, through peace and pain. Even when I felt weak, He remained strong. Even when I felt unsteady, His hand did not let me go.

The Lord has never asked me to face life alone. He promises, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” – Hebrews 13:5 (NIV). And because of that promise, I do not have to fear tomorrow. If this earthly life continues, His presence will go before me. If He calls me home, I will be with Him in fullness of joy.

What grace is this, that I could belong to Jesus so completely? I can never thank Him enough for carrying me through every trial, forgiving me again and again, and staying near through thick and thin. My soul answers with gratitude: Lord, my future is safe with You, because I am safe in You. Today and tomorrow, in life and in death, I am Yours.

Quotes You Can Use

Are you flawed? Of course, we all are. But He can and will use you for His purpose as well. Someone needs to hear the Truth of the Gospel. Be the speaker. Someone needs to get a hand up to a better life. Be the giver. Someone needs a supernatural answer to their need. Be a prayer. Let God use you. — Rich Jensen

Let us praise even the slightest improvement. That inspires the other person to keep on improving. — Dale Carnegie

Do we really fear that artificial intelligence can defeat honest faith in Jesus Christ?

God doesn’t require us to use what we don’t have, but He does expect us to use what we do have for His glory.

Jesus has all we will ever need to do His tasks for us. Don’t ever give up on Jesus as we are a part of the body of Christ.

When you come to Jesus, your search is over, for you have then discovered God.

Sin is pleasurable for a moment, but it is a short-lived moment. One moment’s pleasure can cause a person years of grief, sorrow, and heaviness.

We have to be careful where we focus our attention.

You won’t find the solution to your problems by looking at other people or at yourself.

Peace comes when we turn those overwhelming issues over to God and cease trying to dictate the outcome.

If the Word has not changed you, perhaps it hasn’t saved you. If we hear the Word and don’t do the Word, we are lost. The final test of salvation is fruit. The test of Sunday is how we talk on Monday. — Edgar Aponte

Saving faith is a transforming faith that produces fruitful obedience and gracious compassion.

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